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One of Japan's three rarest festivals. The town comes alive with the flames of torches, aiming to calm the eruptions of Mt. Fuji.
The festival at Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja Shrine and its auxiliary Suwa Shrine is also known as "Chinka-sai”. It is believed to have originated from the legend of the shrine's deity giving birth amidst raging fires and is held to pacify the eruptions of Mt. Fuji.
The festival kicks off with large torches set ablaze across town, an event counted among Japan's three most unique festivals, alongside the Obi Festival in Shimada, Shizuoka, and the Hadaka Matsuri in Konomiya, Aichi. It has also been designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Yamanashi Prefecture.
The festival spans two days. On the afternoon of the 26th, the festivities begin at Sengen Shrine. At dusk a number of rituals kicks of the events, followed by large torches set up throughout the town by designated carriers. As night falls, see as the torches are ignited, illuminating the town with a warm, fiery glow. Festivities continue late into the night, giving the streets a palpable buzz of excitement.
The climax of the festival occurs on the night of the 27th when two portable shrines (mikoshi) are returned to their original locations at Sengen Shrine. The stark contrast between the wild flames and the bustling celebration of the previous night and the solemn ritual in the dark shrine precincts provides a mystical experience for participants.
The sight of large torches being set ablaze on the night of the 26th.
On the afternoon of the 26th, the deity of Sengen Shrine is ceremoniously returned to Suwa Shrine.
Celebrating the appearance of the enshrined deity.
The festival reaches its climax on the night of the 27th within the grounds of Sengen Shrine.
When the two mikoshi (portable shrines) are returned to Sengen Shrine, the surroundings are enveloped in silence.
